Public's assistance sought in homicide

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA | Investigators are seeking help from the public as they investigate the killing of a woman at her house in The Highlands.

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

TUSCALOOSA | Investigators are seeking help from the public as they investigate the killing of a woman at her house in The Highlands.A neighbor discovered Kate Ragsdale, 73, dead at her home on Sunday afternoon. Investigators don't know who killed her or when.“Tuscaloosa Police Department's Crime Scene Unit is out there again today doing more tests for evidence,” Capt. Loyd Baker, Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander, said Tuesday. “We're out looking for eyewitnesses, and we're also looking for physical evidence that we can match to somebody.”An autopsy conducted Monday revealed that Ragsdale died from sharp-force trauma. Investigators spent Tuesday canvassing the upscale neighborhood off University Boulevard and gathering information from people who called their office.“We're following up on all of it. We appreciate anything that's called in. We don't want people to not call because they think their information is insignificant,” Baker said.Investigators want to speak with anyone who saw Ragsdale in the last week or so. They are seeking information about whether she had a conflict or complaint about anyone, he said.“We'd like to speak with anyone who had seen her in the week prior to her death,” Baker said.The investigators have questioned neighbors and crews who are conducting road work outside Ragsdale's home. “We're looking for any potential witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious,” Baker said.Police are also looking back at recent records of calls and police interactions in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.The high-profile case has shocked the community. Baker has remained tight-lipped about some details of the crime scene, including what type of weapon was used and where in the house Ragsdale was found. “There is a lot of misinformation being passed along as to what actually was found at the crime scene,” Baker said. “It's fueling a lot of rumors and speculation.”The information is being withheld from the public because it allows investigators to sift through good and bad leads, he said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 205-464-8690 or CrimeStoppers at 205-752-STOP